The Perfect Airstream

In 1931, Airstream began with Wally Byam’s dream: to build a travel trailer that would move like a stream of air, be light enough to be towed by a car and create first-class accommodations anywhere.

Every inch of an Airstream has a function. Airstream is the most thoroughly tested brand in trailer history. Its engineering is the culmination of over 80 years of experience plus millions of miles on roads throughout the world.

Live Riveted

Doing. Being. Seeing. Experiencing. Overcoming. Loving. Risking. Living riveted is about discovery. It’s the exploration not only of places and spaces, but also of people and ourselves. It’s the invitation to stop. And breathe.

It’s the drive to open a whole world of new experiences. It’s recognizing and believing that there is no wrong way. We may have no control over where we’re from, but we can decide where to go from there…and the action we take to get there is what creates a riveting life.

The Great Big Glorious Success

Wally Byam. Who is he? Wally is Airstream: how did this industrialist develop the iconic, legendary Silver Bullet trailer? His approach to ownership, as an entrepreneur and leader, differed from others who sought wealth above all else. In 1916, the same year that Wally graduated from Jefferson High School in Portland, Oregon, he wrote down his affirmations, life goals, and his inner view of who he was. The following thought was his life’s fuel, which propelled him forward. “I am …

Thank You, Dave Schumann

Friday will see the end of an era at Airstream, as a 44-year veteran of our family will be leaving us. Dave Schumann is retiring, and will leave behind more than four decades of a legacy that touches many different parts of the Airstream story, and our company. Dave grew up on a 100-acre farm just a few minutes away from what’s now Airstream’s Jackson Center factory and headquarters. Everyone in the family worked on the farm, and in his work there Dave developed handyman skills that …

From Primitive to State of the Art

Today’s Airstreams offer a complete camping experience. With kitchens, restrooms, and even showers, it’s quite the glamorous experience as compared to the early days of Airstream. But this didn’t happen overnight. Let’s take a look back. Everyone who goes camping needs water. Before the electronically-measured water tank, the common water carrier was the five-gallon Jerry can. Just think: today’s Airstreams have black tanks, which means you can take …

Fate, Chance, and the Family History of Airstream

On August 15, 1862, at twenty-four years old, a farmer named Loren Byam enlisted in the Union Army. He served until the war came to a close and was released in Brownsville, Texas almost three years later to the day. The Byam family history is important: Loren, as the progenitor, had two sons whose two grandchildren affected the lives of today’s Airstreamers. Wally Byam was born in 1896 and his cousin, Helen Byam Schwamborn, was born in 1904. Without Wally and Helen, there would have been …

Airstream and the Hurricane Power Test

From the time the first line was drawn on a blueprint, Wally Byam was cognizant of quality. Two important aspects that Wally focused on were usability and durability. The early Airstreams, the Torpedo and the Airlite, had less complicated designs. The Airstream Clipper, which first appeared in 1936, could be compared with a jigsaw puzzle. It was made up of thousands of rivets, aluminum panels, plumbing and electrical components, propane lines, cabinets, kitchens, and fitted interior wood …